How many points did Donovan Mitchell score against the 76ers?

Mitchell scored 22 points in the first half alone, shooting 7 for 9 from the field, and continued to pace Cleveland's offense into the second half.

Why did the 76ers fall behind so early in their home opener?

Philadelphia committed 14 turnovers in the first half, which Cleveland converted into an early lead that grew to 24 points by halftime.

Did the Sixers come back in their home opener?

Philadelphia trimmed a 24-point deficit to as few as four points in the third quarter before Cleveland regained an eight-point lead, 90-82, entering the fourth.

When will LeBron James play in Cleveland for the first time as a 76er?

James' first game back in Cleveland wearing a Philadelphia uniform is scheduled for Nov. 6.

Mitchell Outduels LeBron in Sixers Opener

Mitchell Sets the Tone in LeBron's Return to Philly

The Philadelphia 76ers hosted their first home game of the season on Thursday, October 22, welcoming the Cleveland Cavaliers to NBA action at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The matchup marked the regular-season home debuts for both LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, and it was also Peyton Watson's first official game with the Cavs, as well as Cleveland's first overall game of the 2026-27 campaign.

The night carried extra weight given recent history between the two clubs. Cleveland swept all four meetings with Philadelphia last season and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.

Donovan Mitchell stole Joel Embiid's pass on Philadelphia's opening possession, immediately setting a tone the Sixers never fully shook. Mitchell scored 12 points in the first quarter, which he closed with a 28-foot step-back three-pointer at the buzzer, giving Cleveland a 35-18 lead. He finished the half with 22 points in 16 minutes, shooting 7 for 9 from the field, making both of his three-point attempts and going 6 for 7 at the foul line, while adding three rebounds, two steals and a block. The Cavaliers led 69-45 at halftime.

LeBron's Low-Key Homecoming

A New Chapter in a Storied Rivalry

This season marked a turning point in LeBron James' relationship with the franchise that drafted him. After deciding not to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, James narrowed his free agency decision to a handful of teams, with both Philadelphia and Cleveland near the top of the list, before ultimately choosing the Sixers over a second reunion with the Cavaliers.

Speaking about his new team before the game, James captured the early chemistry questions facing Philadelphia's reshaped roster: “We’re still new to each other,” James said.

Turnovers Undercut the Sixers

Philadelphia's slow start had less to do with Cleveland's defense than with its own mistakes. After committing 14 first-half turnovers and showing all the signs of a team that had hardly played together before, the starting five came out with a bang and cut a 24-point lead to five in the third quarter.

This came just two nights after Philadelphia's season-opening victory, part of a stacked opening week across the league that also included the Sixers' win over New York in the same week they spoiled the Knicks' championship banner night.

Sixers Chip Away Before Cleveland Regroups

Nick Nurse's club found life out of the halftime break. The Sixers started the third quarter on a 28-11 run, cutting Cleveland's 24-point halftime lead down to seven in just seven minutes of play. Moments later, with under three minutes left in the frame, the score read Cavs 84, Sixers 80, the closest Philadelphia had been all night.

Cleveland did not panic. The Sixers also adjusted on defense late in the quarter, with LeBron James shifting onto Jarrett Allen, Jaylen Brown guarding Evan Mobley and Joel Embiid taking Peyton Watson, a switch that began forcing turnovers. Even so, Cleveland closed the third quarter back in firm control, outscoring Philadelphia down the stretch to take a 90-82 lead into the fourth, an eight-point edge after the deficit had briefly shrunk to single digits.

What Comes Next

Standings and Season Outlook

Cleveland arrived at Xfinity Mobile Arena with plenty of continuity. The Cavaliers finished 52-30 last season and earned the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, and Mitchell's performance suggested the backcourt pairing with James Harden is already clicking. For Philadelphia, questions about depth and early chemistry remain, even with a healthy roster that has fueled renewed trade speculation around Joel Embiid this preseason.

Circling Nov. 6

The two sides will not have to wait long for a rematch with extra storylines attached. James' first return to Cleveland in a Sixers uniform will come Nov. 6. Until then, Philadelphia will look to clean up the turnover issues that nearly buried its home opener before the Sixers' late push made things interesting against last season's conference finalist.

Both franchises enter the 2026-27 season with reshaped expectations, Cleveland after retaining its core from a deep playoff run and Philadelphia after reconstructing its roster around James and Brown. Thursday's game, part of an early-season stretch already generating buzz around the NBA, offered an early look at how both contenders plan to navigate the long road ahead.

Donovan Mitchell Outshines LeBron James in 76ers' Home Opener

Key points

Kick-off time and where to watch